State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Police Minister to review the allocation of new Police recruits after it was revealed that the Newcastle Local Area Command will receive no new recruits, Central Hunter Local Area Command will receive only one new recruit and the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command will receive just two new recruits.
Of the 226 new officers that will join the New South Wales Police Force, a staggering 83% of recruits will be stationed in Sydney with the rest of the State sharing the remaining 17%.
The Northern Region received a total of 16 new officers to cover the area from the Hawkesbury to the Queensland border.
Ms Hornery has been calling on the Government to allocate more Police resources to the Local Area Command after crime rates increased dramatically in the last few months.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Wallsend residents have been crying out for more Police resources for years and once again those cries have been ignored.”
“An allocation of no new officers for Newcastle Local Area Command, one to Central Hunter Local Area Command and two to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command shows this Government’s lack of interest in law and order in the Hunter.”
“Police resources are stretched to the limit and officers are doing as much as they can but more local Police are needed on the ground.”
“My office has received a spike in complaints from people fearing for their safety and security, over things like unlicensed motorbike riders tearing up parks.”
“Yet the Government continues to say that the area is adequately serviced by Police and they have more than enough resources.”
“More Police on the beat are needed, we deserve our fair share.”